Jar, and closure and handle means therefor



Feb. 22, 1966 DELLINGER 3,236,402

JAR, AND CLOSURE AND HANDLE MEANS THEREFOR Filed NOV. 20, 1963 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,236,402 JAR, AND CLOSURE AND HANDLE MEANS THEREFOR Roy J. Dellinger, 2993 Curtis Sh, Des Plaines, Ill. Filed Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 324,951 2 Claims. (Cl. 215-91) This invention relates to a jar of the type where it is desirable to maintain a substantially air-tight seal between the cover of the jar and the main .body of the jar which holds a perishable product, such as bulk butter, cheese, or the like, to be protected primarily against airborne contaminants and loss of moisture. More particularly, this invention relates to a wide mouth jar, usually made of earthenware, having a non-threading cover which rests on an annular resilient gasket positioned on the top rim of the main body of the jar, and to an improved cover holding and handle means therefor.

Jars of the type referred to above have been made in a variety of shapes and sizes, and with numerous cover holding means to provide an air-tight seal between the cover and the jar body. One of the principal objections of these conventionally made wide mouth jars has been the difficulty encountered by the user in releasing the cover holding means to get at the contents of the jar, and in re-sealing the jar after use to protect the contents thereof. By way of illustration, jars of the type under consideration sometimes employ a generally inverted U- shaped wire clamping device, the bottom portions of which rotatably connect with the side walls of the jar body and the top portion of which overlies the cover and exerts a downward pressure on the cover. These wire clamping device are usually fabricated of heavy gauge spring steel Wire, and the disengagement of the fastening elements thereof often requires the user to apply considerable force. Clamping devices of this character create a danger of injury to a person applying the device to or removing it from the jar cover when the clamping pressure is applied or released by movement of the cover overlying portion thereof. Still another objection to conventionally made wide mouth jars of the type hereinabove mentioned is that, in many instances, the clamping device does not form a convenient, easy to grasp handle for transporting the jar conveniently from one location to another.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wide mouth jar of the type hereinabove referred to having a cover holding means thereon which, while exerting sufficient force on the jar cover to effect a substantially air-tight seal with the jar body, is both readily releasable and re-engageable with minimal finger pressure and without danger of injury to the user. A related object of the present invention is to provide a jar having closure holding means as just described wherein the holding means remains at all times attached to the jar body and on the cover.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a wide mouth jar having a cover holding means thereon comprising parts connected both on the jar body and cover and which together cooperate to exert sufficient force on the jar cover to effect a substantially air-tight seal with the jar body, and which serve as convenient separate carrying handles for the cover and jar body.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a wide mouth jar of the above mentioned type having improved cover holding means as described above which is light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, and can be easily used in the manner explained by substantially anyone.

In a preferred construction of the present invention, the body or contents-containing portion of the jar is 3,236,402 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 "ice provided with a unitary resilient wire member having at each end thereof a substantially horizontal, inwardly extending, bottom portion for rotatably engaging with diametrically opposed openings in the upper portion of the side walls of the jar body. Each bottom portion of the resilient wire member is joined to an upwardly extending portion which, in turn, is joined to a common upwardly curved or arched upper portion which overlies the cover and advantageously serves as a handle for the jar when the cover is in place on the jar body, or for the jar body itself when the cover of the jar is removed therefrom. The cover of the jar desirably also is provided with a unitary, resilient wire member, preferably smaller in size than the wire member carried by the jar body, having at each end thereof a substantially horizontal, inwardly extending, bottom portion for rotatably engaging with diametrically opposed openings in a centrally disposed, raised portion on the cover. Each bottom portion of the resilient wire member of the cover is joined to an upwardly extending portion, each of which, in turn, is joined to a common substantially horizontal upper portion advantageously having a slight downward bend or depression at a point along its length, desirably substantially intermediate the ends thereof.

To provide a substantially air-tight seal between the contents of the jar body and the atmosphere, the cover is first positioned on the jar body. Thereafter, the arched or curved upper portion of the wire member on the jar body and the substantially horizontal upper portion of the Wire member on the cover are rotated into releasable interlocking engagement whereby they resiliently coact to exert a downward pressure against the cover. In their interlocked position, the respective resilient wire members occupy substantially transverse vertical planes, with the highest point on the curved or arched upper portion of the Wire member on the jar body being snugly retained in the depression of the substantially horizontal upper portion of the wire member of the jar cover. The resilient wire members are released from their interlocked position simply by applying finger pressure unidirectionally to either member to bring about downward rotation of the selected member. The wire member associated with the jar body serves a useful and convenient function as a handle for the jar when the cover is locked in place thereon, and for the jar body itself when the cover is removed therefrom. The wire memher on the cover, on the other hand, functions as a convenient handle for the cover when removing it from or replacing it on the jar body. The simple, unitary or one-piece construction of the resilient wire members enables them to be made from relatively short lengths of inexpensive, small diameter, wire rod material such as, for example, aluminum or spring-steel wire.

The above and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon making reference to the following specification, the claims and the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the jar of the present invention with the cover holding and handle means in interlocked relation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the jar illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the manner in which the cover holding and handle means can be released from their interlocked position by applying finger pressure to the wire member on the cover of the jar; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG. 4 illustrating the manner in which the cover holding and handle means can be released from their interlocked position by applying finger pressure to the wire member on the body of the jar.

Referring now to the drawing and in particular to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a substantially air-tight jar incorporating the features of the present invention. The jar 10 has a jar body 12 for the contents of the jar and a cover 14, the annular under-surface of the periphery of the cover and the rim of the jar body advantageously having interposed therebetween a resilient sealing member such as gasket 16. The jar body and the cover of the jar 10 are made of earthenware materials but may be fabricated of glass or other suitable materials. The gasket 16 desirably is made of rubber or rubber-like material and may constitute a separate unit of the jar or be secured as by vulcanization to the cover of the jar.

The jar 10 of the present invention is provided with unique, releasably interlockable cover holding and handle forming means which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, advantageously comprises a jar body engaging member 20 and a jar cover engaging member 22. Each of the members 20 and 22 desirably is fabricated from a single piece of resilient, small to medium gauge, steel wire.

The jar body engaging member 20 has substantially horizontal, inwardly extending pivot-forming bottom portion 24-24 which are received in transverse, diametrically opposed coaxial holes 26-26 in the upper area of the side walls of the jar body 12. Joined to the bottom portions 2424 of the wire member 20 are upwardly extending portions 28-28 which are joined to sharply upwardly curved or arched cover-overlying upper portions 30-30 each having a radius of curvature substantially smaller than the distance between the pivot axis and the highest point of the cover overlying portions when the latter portions intersect at a sharply defined peak 31.

The jar cover engaging member 22, like the jar body engaging member 20, has substantially horizontal, inwardly extending pivot-forming bottom portions 32-32. The portions 32-32 advantageously are received by diametrically opposed coaxial holes 34-34 in a centrally disposed, raised portion 36 on the jar cover 14. The bottom portions 32-32 serve as a pivot for rotation of the wire member 22 into and out of its releasable engagement with the wire member 20. Joined to the bottom portions 32-32 of the wire member 22 are upwardly extending portions 38-38 which desirably are bridged by a substantially horizontal upper portion 40. The portion 40 advantageously is provided with a downward bend or depression 42 for receiving and resiliently snugly retaining the peak 31 formed by the portions 30-30 of the wire member 20. The distance between the lowest point in the bend 42 of the portion 40 and the pivot axis of the member 20 desirably is slightly greater than the distance between the pivot axis of the member 20 and the under-surface of the cover-overlying portions 30-30 thereof at the peak 31 defined thereby. On both sides of the bend 42, the distance between the upper-surface of the portion 40 and the pivot axis of the member 20 becomes progressively greater than the distance between the pivot axis of the member 20 and the under-surface of the cover-overlying portions 30-30 of the member 20 at the peak 31, reaching a maximum at a point adjacent the juncture of the terminii of the portion 40 and the upwardly extending portions 38-38 of the member 22. The distance between the lowest point in the bend 42 of the wire member 22 and the pivot axis of the member 20 desirably is slightly greater than the distance between the pivot axis of the member 20 and the under-surface of the cover-overlying portions 30-30 thereof for an appreciable distance on both sides of the peak 31.

The simplicity and versatility of the unique cover holding and handle forming means of the jar of the present invention lends itself to facile use by even the daintiest and least mechanically inclined user. Thus, to achieve 6.. a substantially air-tight seal between the contents of the jar body 12 and the atmosphere it is merely necessary to place the cover 14 on the gasket 16 positioned on the annular rim of the jar body, the cover being oriented thereon in a manner such that the axis of rotation of the wire member 20 on the jar body 12 will be sub' stantially at a right angle, or at least transverse, or substantially transverse, with respect to the axis of rotation of the wire member 22 on the cover 14. The members 20 and 22 can then be resiliently interlocked preferably by first rotating the member 20 upwardly to a position where the curved or ached upper portions 30-30 thereof substantially overly the raised portion 36 of the cover 14, and then rotating the member 22 upwardly against the upstanding member 20 until the bend 42 in the member 22 is beneath the peak 31 of the member 20. As the member 22 is thusly rotated upwardly, the upper surface of the portion 40, at the lowest point in the bend 42, exerts its maximum pressure against the lower surface of that one of the portions 30-30 with which it is brought into contact, at a point appreciably spaced from the peak 31. This effect is the result of the hereinabove referred to difference in distance between the lowest point in the bend 42 of the member 22 and the pivot axis thereof, and the distance between the pivot axis and the under-surface of the portions 30-30 of the member 20 on both sides of the peak 31. The pressure thus exerted by the bend 42 against one of the portions 30-30 diminishes as the bend 42 is advanced toward its interlocked position with the under-surface of the peak 31. Due to the greater pressures exerted by the upper surface of the bend 42 against the portions 30-30 on both sides of the peak 31, the possibility of the members 20 and 22 becoming inadvertently dislodged from their interlocked position by forces directed against the member 22 is substantially reduced. This unique safety feature of the cover closing means of the present invention serves effectively to preserve the seal between the jar cover and the jar body.

An alternative, but less preferred method of interlocking the members 20 and 22 is to first rotate the member 22 upwardly to a position to place the upper portion 40 thereof over the raised portion 36 of the cover, and then rotate the member 20 upwardly until the peak 31 of the upper portions 30-30 thereof engages the bend 42 of the member 22. When the bend 42 of the member 22 is thus engaged beneath the peak of the member 20, the member 20 pushes against the member 22 to hold the cover securely in place. Inadvertent disengagement of the members 20 and 22 from their interlocked position by a force directed laterally against the member 20 is substantially prevented due to the hereinabove described difference in distance, on both sides of the bend 42, between the uppersurface of the portion 40 and the pivot axis of the member 22, and the distance between the pivot axis and the under-surface of the cover-overlying portions 30-30 of the member 20 at the peak 31. Since the first mentioned distance becomes progressively greater than the last mentioned distance as the member 20 is moved laterally, any inadvertent force so directed against the member 20 is resisted by the increasingly greater pressures between the members 20 and 22 resulting from movement of the member 20 toward either of the ends of the portion 40 of the member 22. This unique safety feature of the cover closing means of this invention complements the previously discussed action of the members 20 and 22 with respect to lateral movement of the member 22, and provides an effective means for maintaining the seal between the jar cover and the jar body during handling, shipping and storage.

The upward curvature of the upper portions 30-30 of the member 20 and the length of the upwardly extending portions 38-38- of the member 22 are such that interlocking of the members 20 and 22 can be performed with minimal finger pressure. Also the degree of curvature of the portions 30-30 of the member 20 and their size leave,

large clearance spaces between them and the cover 14 to enable the member to be gripped easily to form a convenient handle for the jar.

If is is desired to remove the cover from the jar body, finger pressure need only be applied in one direction to either the member 20 or the member 22, causing the upper portions 30 and 40 thereof to be disengaged from their releasable downward pressure exerting position. Referring to the drawing, disengagement of the members 20 and 22 by applying finger pressure to the member 22 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 and is the preferred means for removing the cover, while disengagement by applying finger pressure to the member 20 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. After its release from the member 22, the member 20 can be rotated until it rests against the side walls of the jar body, and the cover can then be raised therefrom Without interference. The member 22 serves as a convenient handle for removing and replacing the jar cover, and the member 20 enables the jar body easily to be transported and held when the contents thereof are being removed.

The closure or cover holding and handle forming means of the jar of the present invention, while being simple to construct, manufacture and use is also rugged and substantially fool-proof in operation. It can easily withstand the rigors of handling both during packaging, shipment, and unpacking of the jar without the various interlocking portions thereof becoming dislodged or disengaged. The compact, symmetrical character of the cover holding and handle means of the jar of this invention, furthermore, imparts a neat, attractive appearance to the jar.

It should be understood that numerous modifications can be made in the preferred form of the invention above described without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

I claim:

1. A substantially air-tight jar having a jar body for the contents of the jar, a cover for said jar body, and releasable jar closure and handle means therefor comprising a first member having bottom side portions in rotatable engagement with the sides of the jar body, a second member having bottom side portions in rotatable engagement with the cover and movable beneath said first member, said first member having convexly curved, cover-overlying portions intersecting at a point at the central part thereof and each having a radius of curvature about a different center so arranged that said portions meet centrally at an angle forming a holding peak for said second member, said second member having an upper portion for engaging with said cover-overlying portions of said first member, said upper portion having a central portion received at the point of intersection of said cover-overlying portions whereby the second member becomes releasably wedged under said first member in an upright position.

2. A substantially air-tight jar having a jar body for the contents of the jar, a cover for said jar body, and releasable jar closure and handle means therefor comprising a first member having bottom side portions in rotatable engagement with the sides of the jar body, a second member having bottom side portions in rotatable engagement with the cover and movable beneath said first member, said first member having convexly curved, cover-overlying portions intersecting at a point at the central part of the first member and each having a radius of curvature about a diflerent center so arranged that said portions meet centrally at an angle forming a holding peak for said second member, said second member having an upper portion for engaging with said cover-overlying portions of said first member, said upper portion of said second member having a centered, gradually curving, shallow, arcuate depression which encompasses a length many times the thickness of the cover-overlying portions of the first member which it engages and is positioned substantially intermediate the ends thereof for receiving said cover-overlying portions at the point of their intersection whereby the second member becomes releasably wedged under said first member in an upright position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,693 12/1896 Palmer 21589 700,764 5/ 1902 Hardy 292256 1,802,557 4/1931 Hight 292256 FOREIGN PATENTS 82,756 8/ 1895 Germany.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY AIR-TIGHT JAR HAVING A JAR BODY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THE JAR, A COVER FOR SAID JAR BODY, AND RELEASABLE JAR CLOSURE AND HANDLE MEANS THEREFOR COMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING BOTTOM SIDE PORTIONS IN ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDES OF THE JAR BODY, A SECOND MEMBER HAVING BOTTOM SIDE PORTIONS IN ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COVER AND MOVABLE BENEATH SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID FIRST MEMBER HAVING CONVEXLY CURVED, COVER-OVERLYING PORTIONS INTERSECTING AT A POINT AT THE CENTRAL PART THEREOF AND EACH HAVING A RADIUS OF CURVATURE ABOUT A DIF- 